THIS busy period for Bovey Tracey Bowls Clubs begins with two ladies’ South Devon League fixtures.

Playing at Torbay Country Club, always a tough opponent, they won well on one rink but were beaten on the other two to lose by 49-44 overall, gaining two league points to Torbay CC's 8.

In a home match against Babbacombe on a sweltering afternoon, one of the Babbacombe ladies was unfortunately overcome by the heat and had to retire, conceding the game in which Bovey were already ahead at that point. The visitors went on to win the other two rinks but, with Bovey won 40-37 overall.

In the 4-3-2-1 competition at Totnes, Bovey's ladies won just the singles through Heidi Call, Totnes taking the doubles, triples and rinks.

Moving over to the men now, who made the short trip to Chudleigh for the first of two Mid Devon League matches where the rinks were shared two each. However, with the hosts winning 74-70 overall, they took 10 league points to the four of Bovey.

Bovey then hosted Kingsbridge Park, who adapted better to the fast green conditions to win by two rinks to one with one drawn. The overall score was 87 shots to 69 giving Kingsbridge 11 league points to Bovey's 3.

In the Over 55s X Division at home to Bitton Park, Bovey welcomed back a couple of their former members now playing for the opposition. Both rinks carded similar scores in favour of Bitton Park which resulted in an overall win by 44 shots to 31 and eight league points to nil.

Bovey visited the pleasant facility at Okehampton for a mixed triples friendly over six rinks. They were warmly welcomed and the match was played in a very sociable spirit. Overall, Bovey won by four rinks to two and by 108 shots to 76.

The club competitions are moving towards their final stages now. Some recent results were as follows; in the men's handicap, Keith Lockett recovered from being 8-1 down early on against Phil Cridge to win by 20 shots to nine and Andy Walding's match against Chris Shorland followed a similar pattern with Andy coming back from 7-1 down to win by 21 shots to 17.

Kenny Breame and Steve Callard were involved in a close affair in the men’s two woods, Kenny shading it 14-11.

In the ladies' four woods, Kath Callard was the winner in both of her rounds, beating Deborah Bailey 21-8 and then winning 21-7 against Lucy Brothwood.

Finally for this week, a match in the ladies' drawn pairs resulted in a win for Chris Towle and Deborah Bailey against Kath Callard and Deb Simpson by 20 shots to 15.